Scientist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1970 for his work in developing new wheat varieties with markedly higher yields and other agricultural innovations in the developing world. He is considered the father of the "green revolution" because of his role in developing high-yield crop varieties which many experts credit with averting global famine during the second half of the 20th century. Said to have saved up to one billion lives by doubling world food production. In India and Pakistan grain production with his hybrid varieties more than quadrupled between 1960 and 1990. Also was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1970) and the Congressional Gold Medal (2007); his 2006 biography is titled "The Man Who Fed the World." Died of complications from cancer. (bio by: Fred Beisser)